Getting Sexy in the City

After 15 years away and numerous requests from hegre-art members, Petter Hegre has at last returned to New York City. Last time he was in Manhattan he was assisting at the studio of acclaimed photographer Richard Avedon. This time he returns to the Big Apple a photographic master in his own right.

NYC is one of the leading photography metropolitans in the world, always at the cutting edge. However with a conservative and condemning legislator like Mr Bush in power things have not been easy in recent years for photographers of the human form. Step in Petter, bringing his unique and inimitable brand of nude art with him.

With winter creeping in on the east coast the goose bump factor was high as the models posed on the roof top terraces. Dozens of office workers from surrounding buildings were treated to the sight of the model climbing the ladders of the water towers. Her ascent was met with much appreciative cheering!

Travel Tags

Day One

With close to 200 travel days a year I rarely get what we in Norway call the "travel fever" but I must admit flying in to New York I had butterflies in my stomach. Already before we even landed I could feel the pulse of the city. When crossing the bridge over to Manhattan with all the monumental landmarks and the celebrated Manhattan skyline in view I felt that unique adrenaline injection that only New York City can provide. The intoxicating buzz that has made New York City what it is today, a hard core machinery of business and pleasure.

We are staying in an awesome penthouse loft two blocks north of the empire state building. With over 22 huge windows lined up in an area of 4500sf and a classic Manhattan roof top terrace with a great view of the empire state building, it is paradise on earth for a photographer. One huge, raw open space with tons of props and settings.

Luba and I instantly felt at home and played around with our snap camera doing some test shots to get familiar with the light and the new location. The first group of models for casting arrived just a few hours after our arrival. As expected, most of the models who showed up were of foreign origin.... seems like bringing home an all American cheerleader or homecoming queen is going to be quite a challenge...

till tomorrow

Travel Day Tags

Photos|Day OneClick an Image to Enlarge

NB! Please note that images and films presented here are not representative of the technical quality of Hegre-Art.com. Travel photos and film clips are made with a "point and shoot" compact camera only.

Day Two

I came to New York with a very clear vision of how I wanted to portray it – in photographic terms we call this pre-visualising. Often it is virtually impossible to recreate these imaginative images but this time the pictures just kept on coming, rolling like a string of donuts as you Yankees might put it!

The water tower, the Empire State building, the celebrated Manhattan skyline, all with the beautiful female form in place, like a rose in a junk yard. The idea was to create images of harshness against softness, a kind of beauty and the beast. Masha, a top model from Moscow, but now based in NYC, performed to absolute perfection.

As we shot the pictures, office workers cheered from the windows of the surrounding buildings of corporate Manhattan. Construction workers gazed on too from their baskets that hang outside the towering skyscrapers. Masha worked her magic wrapping her glorious body around the cold, metal base of the water tower and hanging languidly from the ladder in just a pair of boots. The onlookers could hardly believe their luck as we put on a show they definitely won’t forget in a hurry.

We are creating some amazing new photographs here in the Big Apple for our members. I have been bitten by the NYC bug and I love it so stay tuned for tomorrows results…

Travel Day Tags

Photos|Day TwoClick an Image to Enlarge

NB! Please note that images and films presented here are not representative of the technical quality of Hegre-Art.com. Travel photos and film clips are made with a "point and shoot" compact camera only.

Films

Day Three - Manhattan Madness

Apologies for the delay in getting the day 3 diary out, Luba and I decided to be tourists for a few days!

So I took a trip down memory lane and revisited the apartment building on 10th Street and Bleecker where I lived 15 years ago. Wow! That neighborhood has certainly picked up since I was there. Greenwich Village is one of the most expensive districts for property these days. Back then it was the area for artists, the gay community, bohemians and meat packing!

Yesterday we had lunch with the infamous Dr Ruth Westheimer. She has to be one of the sweetest people I have ever met. Her spirit and energy are infectious and to say that almost every person in the restaurant came over to thank her for saving their sex life would not be an exaggeration! Dr Ruth presented Luba and I with a signed copy of her 3rd edition of ‘Sex for Dummies,’ a book every couple should have in their bedside drawer. On top of that she asked me to take her portrait as it had been a long time since she had been to a photographer – although NOT NAKED was the clear message!

Luba and I also went on a 2 day trip to Seattle. What a fantastic city, almost like going home to Norway. I caught a terrible cold there and was it not for the insanely strong painkillers one can by on any street corner here in NYC, I would have had big problems executing today’s shoot. The fact that the model for the shoot was also was fighting a cold didn’t help, but considering all this it was actually a very productive day.

Today's model is called April. She was born in Virginia but has lived in NYC for 7-8 years and has worked worldwide with some of the top photographers. Her slim and defined body was perfect against the Manhattan skyline, and luckily the weather was on our side. This is a girl that just takes your breath away... and that is exactly what happened to all the onlookers as she posed naked on the roof terrace and in the windows.

Stay tuned…
Petter

Travel Day Tags

Photos|Day ThreeClick an Image to Enlarge

NB! Please note that images and films presented here are not representative of the technical quality of Hegre-Art.com. Travel photos and film clips are made with a "point and shoot" compact camera only.

Day Four

Project Manhattan is nearing its end and what could have been a better way to end it off then with a visit from Dr. "Adrenaline" Ruth, surely the Queen of Sex! The United States has become a better place due to her efforts in the field of sexual advice.

Dr Ruth pioneered the field of media psychology with her radio program "Sexually Speaking", which first aired in New York in 1981. She has written 31 books and counting and at 78 years old she is still on top. Go to www.drruth.com to find out more about this wonderful woman.

Thank you everybody who has helped us to make this an unforgettable trip with all the wining and dining, touring and exploring. Tonight we go to see the heavy weight championship in boxing at Madison Square Garden. Luba and I will naturally be cheering for Ukraine!

Until next time
Petter

Travel Day Tags

Photos|Day FourClick an Image to Enlarge

NB! Please note that images and films presented here are not representative of the technical quality of Hegre-Art.com. Travel photos and film clips are made with a "point and shoot" compact camera only.

Comments

So you were here.... I had to admit I was not really happy because I was away for a working trip. If I was here. I should have taken a ride to heaven.
Anyways, thanks for dropping by here in NYC.

Rudy G.,
Philippines

Videos

I love the behind the scenes videos in these travel sections. How about more videos with the natural soundtrack instead of music, or some videos added to the snapshots section?

Tel,
United Kingdom

The black is sexy

adc,
Australia

that shower photo on Day 3 is HOT, HOT, HOT!!

bruno,
Spain

Manhattan day 4

She's beautiful !
... I mean Luba is gorgeous :-)

Gujo,
Belgium

Manhattan days 1&2

A perfect start keep up the fine work you and your work go a long way to beautify this old world we owe you a debit of graditude.

CONRAD KELLNER,
United States

Day two!

I love the photo titled:
Soft curves against strong lines.
Wow.
I missed you by a few days only.
Great City!

Dan Guerra,
United States

Thought I saw you

Were you at B and H photo yesterday, I think I had a Hegre sighting!

Clinton,
United States

Manhattan

Why was I not told you were coming to my city?
:-}
Great pics from a great photographer!

Rogelio Garcia,
United States

As a native New Yorker, thank you for beautifying my city.

Scott Salbo,
United States

no one compares to Luba!! that panties photo is awesome!

bruno,
Spain

So far, Manhattan is... okay. A couple of nice figures, but beauty is lost by their anonymity (black over eyes). Luba, of course, is ROCKIN' as always!!! :) I love Luba's bra/panty set, and her open-air shower is a breath of fresh air.